White, from Royston town in Hertfordshire county, had been employed since June 2008 and resigned after his arrest in last February. He worked as a communications officer employed by Cambridgeshire police.

He has been slapped with charges covering over 110,000 images including photographs and videos of eight-year-olds and extreme pictures of children engaged in sex acts with animals.

Nerida Harford-Bell, defending White, asked for a psychiatric report to be compiled before sentencing, as White had a history of self harm.

"He is a very isolated individual who found himself with a growing addiction," she added.

Judge Gareth Hawkesworth said: "This report should not be taken as any indication of the likely sentence.

"I keep all options, including custody, open."

White, whose elderly father attended the hearing, will be sentenced at Cambridge in March.